NYPA Press Release

For Immediate Release: August 10, 2026

Contact: Shane Mahar | 518-603-0791 | shane.mahar@nypa.gov

 

New York Power Authority and New York State Canal Corporation Announce Guy Park Manor Rehabilitation Completion and Launch of Park Construction

 

Strengthened Historic Community Landmark Creates New Public Spaces for Residents and Visitors

 

Manor Stabilized, Elevated, and Restored to EnsureProtected Structure and Accessibility

 

Development Begins on New 11- acre Park Creating Expanded Public Access to Grounds, Welcoming Visitor Experience

 

Artist-in-Residence Installation Brings Canal’s Rich History to Life

 

Building Exterior, Park Construction, and Art Installation Photos Available Here

 

The New York Power Authority and New York State Canal Corporation today marked the completion of Guy Park Manor’s rehabilitation and unveiled the fully restored building in the City of Amsterdam, Montgomery County. The project is transforming the property from a flood-damaged historic site to a resilient, welcoming cultural and recreational destination.

 

“The New York Power Authority and Canal Corporation are pleased to celebrate the completion of the restoration of the Guy Park Manor building and to continue to build a park surrounding this historic home, in the heart of the Mohawk Valley,” said New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. “The Guy Park Manor site is valued by the community as a place to get an up-close view of the beautiful Mohawk River while also observing boats being locked through the Canal. This site showcases the vitality of the Canal system, inviting visitors and community members to appreciate the Canal’s historic significance and its uses today for recreation, tourism, art appreciation, and economic development.”

 

Located at Lock E-11 along the Erie Canal and Mohawk River, the work stabilized, elevated and restored the flood-damaged structure that was impacted by Hurricane Irene in 2011. The rehabilitation of the building will help protect it from future high-water events.

 

New York State Canal Corporation Director Ben Walsh said, “The progress that has been made to repair this historic structure is remarkable. As the Erie Canal begins its third century of operation and we pursue other capital projects to shore up our assets, it makes perfect sense to couple that work with efforts to ensure the finished products are environmentally resilient hubs for culture, arts and tourism. The project at Guy Park Manor supports that vision and will serve as a model for many projects to come.”

 

The celebration event featured an art installation by Erie Canal Artist-in-ResidenceZ Behl, commissioned through Cornell University’s Submerse NY initiative and funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Members of the public can view the art exhibit from the grounds. Additional work on the property is continuing so that the entire area will be accessible to visitors, welcoming them to this historic site along the Erie Canal in the Mohawk Valley. The landscaping will also be enhanced with measures to prevent potential damage from future high-water events.  

 

Manor Restoration

Phase One of Guy Park Manor’s rehabilitationfocused on stabilizing and restoring the historic structure while incorporating a comprehensive flood-resilience strategy. The Manor was lifted nearly four feet above the 100-year flood elevation and placed on new poured-concrete footings and foundation walls. The reconstructed basement was designed with engineered vents that allow floodwater to enter and exit the lower level in a controlled manner, reducing pressure on the structure. Other exterior work included reconstruction and repairs to the more than 250-year-old masonry façade, installation of a new slate roof, rebuilding of the Manor’s westside chimneys, and restoration of the Manor’s windows and doors. The south porch, facing the river, was reconstructed and now includes an accessible ramp.

 

Art Installation

Erie Canal Artist-in-Residence Z Behl created a one-of-a-kind glass canoe to emphasize the historic Erie Canal’s evolving role as a recreational and cultural corridor. The illuminated glass vessel, installed at an angle on the parlor floor of Guy Park Manor, can be seen and heard through the windows of the Manor from the newly restored exterior porches daily, from dawn until dusk. In addition to the sculpture, Behl created an accompanying sound installation. The glass canoe exhibit will be on display at Guy Park Manor through at least March 2028.

 

Behl’s Residency project also includes a multi-week paddle of the Erie Canal from Waterford to Buffalo in an 18-foot-long canoe.

 

Park on Grounds

Currently under construction as part of the project’s second phase, the 11-acre site around Guy Park Manor is being transformed into a park featuring ecological restoration, flood-resilient landscaping, and improvements that will allow accessible circulation to and throughout the property. The work highlights landscape-as-infrastructure, with grading, drainage, stabilization, and river interface improvements, including a berm system designed to divert sediment and debris away from the Manor and surrounding landscape during significant high-water events should they impact the grounds. Members of the public can visit the site now, however, additional work on the grounds is still underway.

 

Future Occupancy

In addition to the advancements listed above, the interior of the structure now includes modern and up-to-code electrical wiring, heating and cooling systems, fire detection and suppression, and a monitored alarm system. The structure can accommodate a variety of uses including educational, community-based gatherings, or Class A office space. To complete this third phase of rehabilitation, the final fit-out of the building will be coordinated with the future tenant. Potential tenants are encouraged to contact the Canal Corporation at Jackie.Schillinger@nypa.gov.

 

Congressman Paul D. Tonko said, “Guy Park Manor is a treasured site along our Erie Canal that connects our communities to one another and our shared history. I’m thrilled by the revitalization of this centerpiece of the region that will increase riverfront access, educational opportunities, and resilience against future natural disasters. I’m pushing for continued restoration efforts of Guy Park Manor through the latest round of Community Project Funding in the federal budget and am grateful to have the New York Power Authority and New York State Canal Corporation as strong partners in this effort to support and strengthen our community.”

 

New York State Senator Patricia Fahy said, “The restoration of Guy Park Manor and continued progress on the surrounding park signifies an exciting moment for locals and tourists alike. The Mohawk Valley’s rich history with the Erie Canal is alive and well in Amsterdam, and community members can visit Guy Park Manor to connect to the Canal’s rich history right here in the Capital Region. As we invest time and resources into maintaining the health of the Mohawk River with legislation like the Mohawk River Basin Management Act, sites like Guy Park Manor draw visitors and residents in and keep them invested in history right here at home. Thank you to the New York Power Authority and the New York State Canal Corporation for their unflinching efforts to restore this site and build upon it while respecting its historic significance to Montgomery County and the entire State of New York.”

 

Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara said, “Guy Park Manor has been part of Amsterdam’s story for more than 250 years and today marks an exciting new chapter for this historic site. Restoring the manor after the devastating floods of 2011 preserves an important piece of our history, while the new resiliency park will create a place for people to learn, gather and enjoy the Erie Canal for generations to come. Z Behl’s ‘Mule’s Passage’ adds another special connection between art, history and the waterway that has helped shape our community. I’m proud to celebrate this milestone and see Guy Park Manor come back to life.”

 

Montgomery County Executive Pete Vroman said, "This is an exciting day for Montgomery County. The restoration of Guy Park Manor preserves an important piece of our history while creating new opportunities to share it with residents and visitors for years to come. This project is a testament to what can be accomplished through strong partnerships, and I want to thank everyone who helped make it a reality. I'm looking forward to seeing the next phase move forward with the resiliency park, which will be another significant investment in this historic property and our community."

 

Amsterdam Mayor Michael Cinquanti said,“We are both thrilled and grateful to NYS Canals for their incredible efforts to restore our city’s most historic landmark, making it safe and usable once more.”

 

Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Executive Director Bob Radliff said, “New York State's Canal System and the communities along its banks have been resilient for more than 200 years thanks to foresight like this. We applaud Congressman Tonko, the Power Authority and Canal Corporation, and others who have played key roles, for these significant investments into Guy Park Manor’s restoration and the development of the surrounding park. Projects like this foster a vibrant Amsterdam and Mohawk Valley by improving quality of life for residents and enhancing heritage tourism by visitors."

 

Erie Canal Museum Executive Director Natalie Stetson said, "The Erie Canal Museum is proud to partner with the New York State Canal Corporation on the Erie Canal Artist-in-Residency program. Z Behl's residency and installation at Guy Park Manor captures exactly what we hope this program will do — invite a new audience to the canal and help people to see it not only as a historic waterway, but as a living, evolving part of our communities."

 

Rewa Phansalkar, Research and Outreach Specialist, New York Water Resources Institute (NYWRI) | Cornell University said,"Through Submerse NY, we hope to highlight that when you understand how water moves, how it floods, recedes, and reshapes a place, you can design and build in ways that are not only resilient, but genuinely at home in the landscape. Guy Park Manor is a living example: resilience woven into every layer, from its flood history to the renovation that honors it. We hope that Z Behl's sculpture can be an invitation to carry that thinking home - to imagine what resilience could look like where you are."

 

Guy Park Manor, a structure listed in the National Register of Historic Places, was severely damaged by flooding during Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011. The preservation, rehabilitation, and reactivation of this site is being completed in three phases – restoration of the building, a new park and outfitting the building.

 

The Erie Canal Artist-in-Residence Program, a partnership between the New York State Canal Corporation and the Erie Canal Museum, invites artists to uncover fresh perspectives and overlooked stories along the Canal. Launched in 2023 with a single artist, the program has quickly grown; now in its fourth year, it welcomes two artists annually to inspire new audiences and deepen the cultural narrative of this historic waterway.

 

Submerse NY Programis a statewide flood risk awareness and public art initiative led by the New York State Water Resources Institute and New York Sea Grant, a joint program of Cornell University and the State University of New York, in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The program helps communities make flood risk visible and understandable through creative public engagement, visual markers, and art.

 

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About NYPA

The New York Power Authority is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 17 generating facilities and more than 1,550 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on LinkedIn,Twitter, Facebook,Instagram, and Substack.

 

About the New York State Canal Corporation

New York’s Canal system includes four historic canals: the Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga – Seneca. Spanning 524 miles, the waterway links the Hudson River with the Great Lakes, the Finger Lakes and Lake Champlain. The canals connect hundreds of unique and historic communities across Upstate New York. The New York State Canal Corporation is a subsidiary of the New York Power Authority. For information visit www.canals.ny.gov and follow us on Facebook atInstagram.